• Commonly called ‘Pearl Oyster’.

• Produce pearls of commercial value.

• Lives in large numbers, attached to rock with the help of byssus threads.

• It inhabits vast areas forming pearl beds.

• Possess two unequal shell valves.

• Produced from their hinge lines is a short, wing like process on each side.

• Produce natural pearls.

• Shell surface is marked by radialing bands each ending in the finger like processes seen in the margin.

• Foot extremely reduced or absent.